Congressman Pat Harrigan, representing North Carolina’s 10th District, voted in favor of H.R. 4553, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026. The bill focuses on federal funding for U.S. energy innovation, nuclear security, water infrastructure, and flood control.
“Energy security is national security, and this bill invests in both,” said Congressman Harrigan. “It funds the Army Corps of Engineers to keep our rivers and coasts strong, secures the grid against cyber threats, and accelerates advanced nuclear power so America—not China—sets the terms of global energy leadership. This is about keeping our lights on, our people safe, and our economy untouchable.”
H.R. 4553 allocates more than $1.7 billion to the Army Corps of Engineers’ civil works program for construction projects focused on flood control and storm protection. The legislation also boosts funding for grid cybersecurity and resilience, increases support for advanced nuclear energy initiatives, maintains cleanup efforts at Cold War-era nuclear sites, fully funds the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and supports water projects important to agriculture, navigation, and drought preparedness.
The measure will now proceed to the Senate. Congressman Harrigan urged prompt approval by senators to reinforce America’s energy systems and infrastructure against natural disasters as well as potential threats from foreign adversaries.
In related background, Pat Harrigan secured his seat in Congress after defeating Ralph R. Scott, Jr. in the 2024 general election with 57.5% of the vote (https://ballotpedia.org/Pat_Harrigan).
